Spotlight



w. W. MORU Y Dec. 3l, 1929.

SPOTLIGHT Filed Dec. 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [nUenZv@ walter E() Mora.

Dec. 3l, 1929.

TLIGHT Filed Dec. 20. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 31, 1929 WALTER W. MORTI, OF KENGSHA, ISCONSN SPOTLIGHT Application filed December 20, 1926.

The present invention relates to improvements in adjustable spotlights, such as are commonly used on automobiles, motorboats and the like, and has particular reference to a mechanism for adj ustably mountingand manipulating such lights. n

The objects of the invention are to provide a new and improved spotlight which canbe easily, quickly, accurately and convenient-ly l@ adjusted into any desired angular position;

which can be adjusted at a substantial distance from the light, as from the dash board, steering device or any other position 7ithin convenient reach of the manipulator; and

which is simple and compact in construction.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a ball and socket mounting for the main supporting bracket of the spotlight, thereby making it possible to mount said bracket in any one of a large number of different angular positions, without changing any of the parts of the spotlight and without spoiling the appearance of the mounting.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a brush Contact located between two relatively inovableparts of the supporting bracket and electricallyconnecting the ends of the electric lead wires in said parts. o'

A more specific object resides in the provision, in a support for a spotlight having a plurality of relatively rotatable parts, of conl ducting means extending through said support to the lamp socket, which means is unaffected by relative adjustment of said parts. A further object resides in the provision of novel spotlight in which the movable parts are adjustable to take up wear, and in which said parts are held tightly in position to prevent lost motion and accidental mis-adjustment.

Auxiliary objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionv proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a spotlight embodying the features of my te invention.

Serial No. 155,782.

Fig.r 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of F ig. 1.

F ig. 3 is a sectional viewI taken substantially along line 3 3 of F ig. 1.

Fig. 4l is an enlarged sectional view of the brush Contact unit.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is-a sectional view taken along line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partially in section of a modified form of my invention.

lVhile the invention 1s susceptible of various tions modifications and alternative construc- 1 have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodimentof my invention, but it is to be underst ood that 1 do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, the exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a lamp the p 10 of any suitable construction, and in resent instance similar to the clamp disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. L19,693, filed August 12th, 1925. To support the lamp 10, a tubular stem 11 is threaded through a boss 12 formed in the lower wall of the housing` 13 for the lamp, and is the upper end of the housing. To hold the head 17 against the flange 1S, a spring 19 is interposed between the clamp nut 15 and the flange. The spring 19 (see Fig. 2) is preferably in the form of a corrugated ring,

and i 2U :to

s partially enclosed by an annular flange lnled on the lower end of the clamp nut 15. It willthus be noted that the lamp 10 is rotatably adjustable about the axis of the stem 11, and that the bearing surfaces between the housing 16 and the head 17 are held tightly together by the spring 19, thereby tending to hold the parts frictionally in adjusted position. The pressure of the spring 19 can be'adj usted by adjusting the clamp'nut 15 on the stem 11.

An end cap or plug 21 having an inner lndrical chamber or depression 22 is t maded into the lower end of the gear housing 16 to close the latter. The gear housing 16 is formed integral with: a lateral sleeve 23,i

in the outer end of which a bushing 24 is securely clamped in position by any suitable means, such as the screw 25. The sleeve 23, and hence the gear housing 16, is mounted for rotary adjustment against the free end of a hollow supporting bracket or sleeve 26 by means of an adjusting sleeve 27, one end of which is fitted tightly into the bushing 24. The ldjusting sleeve 27 extends through and is rotatably adjustable in a mounting sleeve 28, rigidly secured to the supporting sleeve 26 in any suitable manner. In the present instance, the mounting sleeve28`extends concentrically through the sleeve 26, and is threaded into a boss 29 formed in the free end thereof. j

The spotlight isadapted to be mounted in any suitable position on any suitable supporting means. In Fig. 1, I have shown the spotlight mounted on a round side member 30 of a wind shield `frame (notshown). The mounting sleeve 28 is adapted to j extend through the member 30at any suitable angle, and in the present instance'extendsthrough a transverse bore 31 in the member.

To position the supporting sleeve 26 neatly and tightly against the member 30 at any suitable angle, the inner or adjacent end of the sleeve flared outwardly to form'la ball socket 32. Thissocket seatson a'ball member 33 which has a central epening'34 through which themounting'V sleeve 28 extends freely, and which is formed on amounting plate 35 curved about the supporting member 30 and secured theretoby any suitable means, such asthe screws 36. T o hold the socket 32 tightly against the ball member 33, a nut 37 is threaded onto the rear end of the mounting sleeve 28 and against thesupporting member 30` and is held in place by a lock nut 38.

The free or rear end of the mounting sleeve 28 is threaded, tapered and split longitudinally. This split end: is clamped frictionally against the adjusting sleeve 27 by means of a nut 39 formed integral with a tapered or wedge sleeve 40' coacting with ther taper of said end. i This frictional engagement can be adjusted by adjusting thenut 39, and serves to hold the sleeve27 against mis-adjustment.

.It will be noted that the gear housing 16 thusV 1s adjustable about af horizontall axis, and is held in adjusted position through friction with the supporting means therefor.

In Fig. 8, a modiiied means for supporting the spotlight is shown. In this means, the ball member 33 is formed integral or rigid with a supporting ring 41 which takes the place of the supporting member 30. The mounting sleeve 28 is clamped to the ring 41 inthe same manner as disclosed in the foregoing, except, however, that one or more spacer rings 42 is or are disposed on the sleeve between the ring 41 and the nut 37. The supporting ring 41 is formed integral with a laterally disposed ring 43 which is adjustably secured on a threaded stud 44 by means of a nut 45. The stud 44` forms part of a bracket 46 adapted to be secured by a friction clamp band 47 to a suitable support.

Means' isprovided for adjusting the gear housing 16, and hence the lamp 10 about a horizontal axis. This means comprises a hollow generally semi-spherical knob section 48, the closed end of which is rigidly secured to an axial sleeve 49 located therein. The sleeve 49 is rigidly secured to a joint 50 having a semi-cylindrical extension 51 which is complementary to a similar extension 52 on the end of the adjusting sleeve 27. The joint thus affects a splined connection between the adjusting sleeve 27 andthe knob section 48.

Means is also provided for independently adjusting the lamp 10 about the axis of the stem 11. This means comprises an adjusting shaft 53 extending rotatably through the adjusting sleeve 27. The inner end of the shaft 53, in the gear housing 16, has secured thereon'a bevel gear 54 which meshes with a bevel gear 55 securely mounted in the head 17 In the present instance, the bevel gear 55 has a hub 56 tted tightly in an enlarged cylindrical recess 57 in the lower end of the head 17. Mounted on the outer end of the shaft 53 is a hollow rounded knob section 58. This knob section 58 is'- formed on the inside with an axial sleeve 59 fitting over the end of the shaft 53, and with a radial web or boss' 60 extending outwardly from the sleeve to the periphery. A screw 61 is threaded through the boss 60, and' has a key 62 on its inner 1 end engaging a depression or aperture 63' in the'sid'e of the shaft 53. It is to beV noted that by rotatably adjusting the knob section 58, the lamp 1() will be adjusted about the axis of the stem 11 through the shaft 53, the bevelY gears 54 and 55, and the stem 11.

The open peripheral edge of the knob section 48 is formed integral with an inner clutch cone 64 adapted to engage an outer clutch cone 65 formed on the adjacent peripheral edge of the knob section 58. A coil spring 66 disposed on the sleeve 49 and abutting ati its opposite ends against the closed ends of the knob sections 48 and 58, tends to hold the clutch cones 64 and 65 out of engagement.

llt is to be noted that by grasping the whole knob, which includes the sections i8 and 58, the clutch cones 64 and 65 will be moved into engagement so that by turning the knob the lamp 10 and gear 54 will be adjusted about a horizontal axis, but not about the axis of the stem 11.

The lamp 10 is electrically connected to a suitable source of current (not shown) through a wire 67 leading from the housing 18 through the bore of the stem 11, a contact pin 68, a contact plate 69 yieldingly engaging the free end of the pin 68, a wire 70, brush contact unit 71 positioned between the sleeves 28 and 26, a wire 72, a suitable switch 73, and a wire 74 to said source. lhile I have shown a single connection adapted for a single contact bulb, it is to be understood that a double connection for a double contact bulb may be readily substituted.

The contact pin 68 is slidably mounted in an insulating bushing 7 5 which is disposed in an axial bore 76 extending through the gear 55, and in the lower or inner end of the bore of the stem 11. rlhe contact plate 69 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is held centrally on an insulating plate 77 which rests on t-he end of a coil spring 78 disposed in the recess 22 in the end plug or cap 21. By this construction, the contact plate 69 is held firmly against the end of the pin 68, and the connection is unaffected by rotary adjustment of the lamp 10 on the housing 16.

The brush contact unit 71 (see Figs. 4 to 6) comprises an inner insulating ring 79 and an outer insulating ring 8O mounted on the adjusting sleeve 27. The inner ring 79 has an outer peripheral end flange 81 fitting against the end of the bushing 24. A proj ec tion 82 is formed on the outside of the flange 81, and fits into a depression 88 in the end of the bushing 2d to hold the ring 79 against independent rotation. The lead wire is disposed in a longitudinal groove 8ain the outer surface of the bushing 24, and the bared end thereof extends through a narrow notch 85 in the edge of the flange 81 into the unit 71. rlhe bared end of the wire 7 O is bent to rest against the inner side of the flange 81. rlhe outer ring' 80 has an inner peripheral end flange 86 fitting snugly in the end of the supporting sleeve 26 and against the end of the mounting sleeve 28. A pair of lugs 87 are struck out from the periphery of the flange 86 to forni a notch 88. The bared end of the wire 7 2 enters the ring 86 through the notch 88, and is bent to lie against the inner surface of the flange 86. The lugs 87 fit into a depression 89 in the end of the mounting sleeve 28 to hold the ring 80 against rotation in the sleeve 26. Disposed between the bared ends of the wires 70 and 72 and between the'rings 79 and 8O are two Contact washers 90 and 91. The washer 91 is curved slightly to provide tension for maintaining good contact. The rings 79 and 8O thus provide a closed annular chamber for the ends of the wir-es 7() and 72 and the washers 90 and 91.

The electrical connections between the wires in therelatively movable parts of the spotlight obviate the necessity of providing extra length of wire to permit adjustments. As a result, the wires and connections are enclosed within the parts without resulting in a bulky construction.

The wire 72 leads from the unit 71 through a longitudinal groove 92 in the boss 29, the sleeve 26, the opening 3l, and a bore or passage 93 extending through the supporting member 80. ln the modification shown in Fig. 8, the wire 72 extends through an opening 94 in the ring l1. Y

l claim as my invention:

1. ln a device of the class described, the combination of stationary mounting means, an operating sleeve extending through said mounting means, a casing mounted on the forward end of said sleeve for rotary adjustment about the axis of said sleeve, a stem rotatably mounted in said casing, a lamp mountcd on said stem, an operating shaft extending through said sleeve into said casing, gear means in said casing operatively connecting said shaft to said stem, al knob section splined to said sleeve, a second knob section rigidly secured to said shaft, said sections having clutch elements adapted to connect said sections for simultaneous rotary motion, spring means tending to separate said clutch elements, and friction means for holding said parts in different positions of adjustments.

2. ln a device of the class described, the combination with a support of a ball member adapted to be secured to said support, a tubular socket member engaging said ball member, a lamp, and means extending through said tubular member, said ball member and said support for supporting said lamp and for adjusting said lamp about two mutually perpendicular axes, said means servingto clamp said socket member against said ball member by clamping engagement with said support.

8. 1n a device of the class described, the combination with a support of a ball member, a socket member engaging said ball member, one of said members being adapted to be mounted on said support, a lamp, and means mounted in the other of said members for supporting said lamp and for adjusting the position of said lamp, and for coacting with said support to cla-mp said members together.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a support including a casing, a tubular stem extending into said casing, a lamp mounted on said stem, operating means extending through said support into said casing, means operatively connecting said last mentioned means to said stem for adjusting said lamp rotatably about the axis of said stem, a contact plate in said casing and in alinement with said stem, a spring underlyingr said plate and tending to urge said plate upwardly, and a contact pin extending axially into said stem and being electrically connected to said lamp, the end of said pin bearingagainst said contact plate.

5. ln a device of the class described, in combination, a pair ol concentric operating members, a spotlight mounted on one of said members and operatively connected to both for adjustment about tivo di'l'erent axes, an operating knob mounted on the inner of said members and an opera-ting.,Y knob splined to the outer of said members for movement into and ont of engagement with said first mentioned knob, the adjacent edges of said knobs being formed with complementary clutch elements adapted to coact to permit simultaneous rotation of said 1knobs.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tubular support, and adjusting sleeve extending through said support, a head mounted on one end oi'z said sleeve for rotary adjustment aboutthe axis of the latter and abutting against the end of said support, said support and said head being formed internally with `grooves extending,` longitudinally thereof for enclosing suitable lead Wires, a lamp mounted on said head, a lead Wire extendingr from said lamp through the groove in said head, a lead Wire extending through the groove in said support, and electrical brush means connectin the ends of said wires at the junction ot said support and said head.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

WALTER lV. MORU 

